Variable pitch rafter template



March 19, 1968 s. N. NELSON 3,373,496

VARIABLE FITCH RAFTER TEMPLATE Filed Aug. 22, 196e COMMON RAFTER LENGTHS SEAT CUT LEVEL MARK MHVN ENn'ld .U19 'HV1 F 39615 INV EN TOR.

Fm. 3 BY SIDNEY N. NELSON United States Patent Office 3,373,495 Patented Mm'. 19, 1968 3,373,496 VARIABLE PITCH RAFTER TEMPLATE Sidney N. Nelson, 105GB N. Magnolia Lane, Minneapolis, Minn. 55427 Filed Aug. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 573,936 1 Claim. (Cl. 33--93) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A variable pitch rafter template arranged to mark common and other types of rafters for ridge and tail cuts, seat cuts, and the like. The template is provided with means for pre-setting the `device for use with the commonly dimensioned lumber normally employed for forming rafters, and is further provided with indicia for providing a pitch equivalent to those pitches commonly used in construction. The variable pitch rafter template is further provided with an inner apex whi-ch has a pair of blades extending at right angles therefrom, each blade having an edge surface projecting from said apex, and defining a marking surface for the level seat cut and plumb seat cut respectively.

The present invention relates generally to a rafter template means which is adapted to provide a pattern for marking lumber such as a rafter or the like to be cut for a structure, dwelling, or other enclosure, and more particularly to a variable pitch rafter template means which is provided with an arcuately pivotal frame arm member which may be adjustably se-cured to the template in order to provide a proper registration of the template with a rafter member for marking a family of rafters for appropriate cutting.

In the construction and erection of buildings, dwellings, and other enclosures, it is frequently necessary to design sloping roof rafters which are appropriately Secured to the upper or top stud plates, or other support medium. The rafters used in the ordinary structures include common rafters, jack rafters, cripple rafters, and hip and valley rafters. Roofs of most residential structures erected today utilize a number of common rafters, and frequently will utilize jack rafters, cripple rafters, and hip and valley rafters. The skilled craftsmen utilized in home building today are capable of calculating the angles, depths, and other critical data needed for appropriately establishing a rafter structure; however, with an appropriate template means, these craftsmen are enabled to expedite their work, and by employing the apparatus of the present invention, the builder may employ unskilled craftsmen to perform certain of the cutting and designing operations with the rafter members.

In the past, various template devices have been proposed which may be utilized in connection with marking of rafters for certain pitches, and also for marking the area of the seat -cuts and the like which are to be formed. These devices have normally'been of limited application, either for a single rafter size, or for a certain limited number of marking operations. In accordance with the apparatus of the present invention, a single universally adaptable rafter template is provided which may be utilized in connection with any of a plurality of rafter members, including for example, the various 2 x 4 rafters, the various 2 x 6 rafters, and the various 2 x 8 rafters. The template is provided with means for establishing markings appropriate for the ridge cut and tail cut plumb marks, the seat cuts including the seat level mark and the seat cut plumb mark. With this apparatus, the depth of the seat cut will invariably be appropriate for the various rafters used, even when 2 x 4 common rafters are utilized with 2 x 6 hip rafters. Appropriate indicia are provided for various appropriate connecting ports or bolt holes which are utilized in connection with the arcuately pivotal and releaseably securing of the frame arm to the template head. Therefore, the operator may quickly ascertain the appropriate pitch at which the frame arm member should be applied relative to the remaining portions of the template body and set the device accordingly.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved variable pitch rafter template which is universally adaptable for marking the cutting areas for the roof rafters normally used in construction of buildings, residences and other enclosures.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a universally adaptable variable pitch rafter template which is specifically adapted to provide appropriate markings for a family of rafters and including ridge and tail plumb marks, seat cut level marks, and seat cut plumb marks.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved variable pitch rafter template which is adapted to be used in connection with operations on the various rafter elements which are normally employed in construction, the template being provided with means adapting its operation to the various roof rafters in use, including common, jack, cripple, hip and valley rafters, prepared from 2 x 4 stock lumber and 2 x 6 stock lumber, the template being further adapted to provide a uniform seat cut depth for aligning the family of rafters in a uniform manner on a given structural enclosure.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawing wherein;

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a variable pitch rafter template fabricated in Aaccordance, with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view, partially broken away and slightly enlarged scale, of the head portion of the variable pitch rafter template shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line and in the direction of 3-3 of FIGURE 1, and on a still larger scale, of the frame arm member of the template assembly shown in FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 are elevational views of the varible pitch rafter template shown in FIGURE 1 as utilized in its various operations on a conventional piece of stock lumber.

In accordance with the preferred modi-lication of the present invention, a variable pitch rafter template generally designated 10 is shown in full in FIGURE l, this template including a pair of blades or arms, such as the horizontally extending blade 11 and the downwardly depending or extending blade 12. These blades originate from a common head member shown generally at 13. The `blades 11 and 12 are disposed, of course, at right angles, one to another. A frame arm 14 is detachably secured to the head 13 by means of the bolts 15-15 and their cooperating lwing nuts 16-16. As indicated in detail in FIGURES l and 2, the bolts 15-15 are adapted to pass through the individual bolt holes or bores 18, 19, 20 and 21 formed in the head 13. Each of the holes 18, 19, 29 and 21 has its corresponding area of printed indicia 23, 24, 25 and 26 disposed adjacent thereto, in order to form a guide for the appropriate angle at which the frame arm is to be disposed relative to the rafter template body.

As indicated in detail in FIGURE 2, each of the areas of printed indicia are appropriate for a certain type of rafter, area 23 being expressly suited for hip and valley rafters to match 2 X 6 common rafters, the other areas being appropriately identified. Thus, the frame arm is originally attached to the head through its rear pivot hole or opening 28, and thereafter secured by means of a bolt extending through the slot 29 in the frame arm and the arcuate slot 30 formed in the head. Thus, by selecting the proper hole 18, 19, 20 or 21, together with the appropriately designated angle as determined by the bolt which passes through lboth the straight slot 29 and the arcuate slot 39, the lframe arm is secured to the template head at the proper relative angle, as selected by the operator. In this connection, each of the areas of indicia 23, 24, 25 and 26 contain angular settings which define the appropriate relative angle, particularly as desired by the operator and may include, for example, angular settings by 1/z-inch increments for all pitches ranging from a rise of 3 inches per foot of run to a rise of 9 inchesper foot of run.

The frame arm 14 preferably comprises a pair of elements or components, one on either side of the head to accommodate use of the apparatus from either side of the rafter being marked. At the tree tip end of the frame arm 14, a pair of thru-rivets 17-17 are disposed, these rivets being spaced apart by internal spacers in order to provide for free pivotal rotation of the arm 14 relative to the head 13.

In operation, the opeartor initially preselects the appropriate hole 18, 19, 20 or 21 adjacent the appropriate indicia for the operation at hand. The pitch angle is then selected by placing the edge of the arm 14 in alignment lwith the appropriate pitch line desired. With particular emphasis being directed to FIGURE 4, it will be observed that the frame arm 14 is disposed at a pitch appropriate for a 41/2 inch rise per foot of lineal distance, and with the frame arm in this position, the rafter template is laid adjacent the rafter member 35, as indicated. The face 36 of the vertically depending blade 12 is then used as a marker yfor the tail cut plumb mark. Thereafter, the opeartor measures the appropriate distance upwardly from the tail out and places the template on the rafter with the edge of the frame arm along the top surface of the rafter. In this position, the seat out is made with the level mark portion being formed from the underside of the horizontally extending blade, as at 38, and the plumb mark for the seat cut being made from the interior face of the vertically depending blade member 39. The depth of the seat cut is appropriate for all rafters being out, whether they are common, jack, or cripple rafters, for example. Thus, if a hip or valley rafter is being out to match 2 x 4 common rafters, the depth of the seat cut will be appropriate to provide proper alignment of the upper surface of the rafter in all instances.

The next operation of the unit is shown in FIGURE 6, this being the ridge cutpwhich is accomplished by placing the frame arm in alignment with the under surface of the rafter and then scribing a line across the rafter by following the edge 36 of the vertically depending blade 12.

In the event Ian operator were working with 2 x 6 common rafters, he would place one of the through bolts 15 through the hole 19, align the edge of the frame arm with the proper indicia in the area 24, and thereafter secure a second through bolt through the slot 29 along with the arcuate slot 30, and thereby obtain or achieve proper alignment for the proposed operation. In forming the appropriate cuts on hip and valley rafters to match 2 x 6 common rafters, the iirst through Kbolt is passed through 'Lil the frame arm 14 and the hole 18, along with the second through bolt being passed through the same arm 14 by way of the slot 29 and the arcuate slot 30.

Therefore, a single variable pitch rafter template is provided which is completely versatile for use with 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 dimension stock lumber, for example, and is adaptable for cutting all types of rafters in ordinary use, including common rafters, jack rafters, cripple rafters, and hip and valley rafters. The unit is extremely compact and may be provided with additional indicia for indicating common rafter lengths for various pitch and overhang requirements. As a result, exceptional accuracy and speed may be achieved with either skilled or -unskilled craftsmen utilizing the compact and versatile unit.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the various specific examples provided herein are for the purposes of illustration only and are not to be otherwise construed as a limitation on the scope of protection to which this invention is reasonably entitled.

I claim:

1. A variable pitch rafter template means comprising a template head having a first horizontally extending blade and a free end, and a second vertically depending blade, each yblade extending from said head and being disposed at right angles, and meeting at a point defining a juncture; frame arm means arranged to be adjustably secured to said head and including a pair of spaced apart elongated members with said elongated members being disposed on either side of said template head, said members having a first bolt receiving mounting hole in one end and a cooperatively disposed mounting slot at the other end, said template head having a plurality of spaced mounting holes arranged in a rectangular pattern and positioned a certain predetermined vertical distance from said point and a certain horizonal distance toward said free end of said horizontally extending Iblade from a vertical projection extending from said point, said head being further provided with an arcuate slot therein for cooperation with said mounting holes for releasably securing said frame arm means to said head, first bolt means extending through said arcuate slot and said mounting slot, second bolt means extending selectively through one of said rectangularly arranged mounting holes and said hole in said arm for angularly adjusting the arm relative to the head; and separate sets of indicia disposed on said template head adjacent each mounting hole for alignment with an edge surface of the frame arm means for indicating the angular disposition of said frame arm means relative to said blades.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 53,397 3/1866 Branch 33--93 383,242 5/1888 Palmer 33-93 485,456 11/1892 Cook 33-93 496,714 5/1893 Allred 33-75 631,536 8/1899 Bradsby 33-94 1,495,844 5/ 1924 Harrison 33-94 1,980,765 11/1934 Sloper 33-90 HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner. 

